Thursday, June 7, 2012

New logo: Twitter

One of the big topics on Twitter yesterday was that the service itself had launched a major update of its identity. From June 6, the familiar Twitter wordmark, with its regonisable T, is history. Twitter has joined those few brands that have such confidence in their symbol that they no longer feel the need for a wordmark. Twitter will now be represented by the blue bird alone.

For its promotion, the Twitter bird has gotten a haircut and appears slimmer and more elegant. Its body is geometric and made up of a set of circles. The most noticeable change is the bird's trajectory. No longer comfortably flying above the ground, he is now soaring up into the air. Oh, the symbolism.

Previous Twitter bird.

Previous Twitter logo.

Twitter last updated its corporate identity in 2010, when the wordmark was tweaked and the bird was given another makeover.

Twitter wordmark used until 2010.

"Our new bird grows out of love for ornithology, design within creative constraints, and simple geometry. This bird is crafted purely from three sets of overlapping circles — similar to how your networks, interests and ideas connect and intersect with peers and friends. Whether soaring high above the earth to take in a broad view, or flocking with other birds to achieve a common purpose, a bird in flight is the ultimate representation of freedom, hope and limitless possibility." - Twitter blog post